In this episode of the blogcast, University of Oregon research scholar Mami Takahashi reflects on her time at the Mary Sky artist residency. Yoshida Kenko's 14th century essay collection Tsurezuregusa inspired her residency project Tsurezuregusa for Vermont. Among the philosophies she strives to integrate are acceptance of a simple life and a willingness to let nature dictate circumstance.

Takahashi discusses how her art interrogates impermanence, the concept of American-ness, and the cultural perspective of the foreigner.

Kalan Sherrard is a street performer living in Brooklyn. His claims to fame include being made poster child of the Zuccotti Park Occupy movement by New York Magazine and throwing a prosthetic penis at police while infiltrating Art Basel Miami. He can often be found creating nihilist anarchist puppet shows in the New York City subway system. We've published our original interview as well as Sherrard's audio response.